helping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, but acceptable in general spoken and written contexts.
Quick answer
What does “helping” mean?
A portion of food served to one person at a meal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A portion of food served to one person at a meal.
A portion or share of something more abstract, such as a task or responsibility; an act of giving assistance or support.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both varieties use it for food portions and in the idiom 'a helping hand'.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English for referring to food, though perfectly standard in AmE.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both, strongly associated with domestic and mealtime contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “helping” in a Sentence
[have/take] + a/the + ADJ + helping + of + NOUN (food)[give/serve] + [someone] + a + helpingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “helping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She is helping her neighbour with the gardening.
American English
- He's helping out at the community center this weekend.
adjective
British English
- She found his advice very helping. (Less common, 'helpful' is standard)
American English
- The helping tools are in the drawer. (Uncommon, 'helpful' preferred)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except metaphorically ('a helping hand with the project').
Academic
Rare.
Everyday
Very common, especially in domestic settings regarding food.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “helping”
- Using 'helping' as an uncountable noun (*I'd like some helping). It's countable: 'a helping'.
- Confusing it with 'help' as an uncountable concept. 'I need help' not *'I need a helping' (unless you mean food).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used abstractly, especially in the fixed phrase 'a helping hand' meaning assistance.
No. It is a countable noun. You must say 'a helping' or 'two helpings', not 'some helping'.
They are often synonyms for food, but 'portion' is more neutral and can be used in technical/medical contexts (portion control). 'Helping' is more informal and suggests a served amount at a meal.
The form is identical to the gerund/present participle of 'help', but as a standalone noun, 'helping' is a separate lexical item with its own meaning (a portion of food). Context clarifies which is which.
A portion of food served to one person at a meal.
Helping is usually informal, but acceptable in general spoken and written contexts. in register.
Helping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhelpɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɛlpɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a helping hand (assistance)”
- “second helping (another portion)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HELPer at a dinner party who gives you a HELPING of food.
Conceptual Metaphor
ASSISTANCE IS NOURISHMENT / SHARING A TASK IS SHARING A MEAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'helping' LEAST appropriate?